Festivities held in India and Nepal marked the 77th birthday of the Tibetan spiritual leader-in-exile, the 14th in his line. The current Dalai Lama has lived much of his life abroad since fleeing the Chinese Communist conquest of his homeland and remains the emotional locus for the hopes of hundreds of thousands of Tibetans in exile.

Tibetans gather to mark the birthday of the Dalai Lama at a monastery in Kathmandu, Nepal on July 6, 2012. The current Dalai Lama is the 14th incarnation of his order and has lived in exile for much of his life following China's invasion and annexation of Tibet over a half century ago.

Festivities held in India and Nepal marked the 77th birthday of the Tibetan spiritual leader-in-exile, the 14th in his line. The current Dalai Lama has lived much of his life abroad since fleeing the Chinese Communist conquest of his homeland and remains the emotional focus for the hopes of hundreds of thousands of Tibetans in exile.